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Object Timeline

1901

  • We acquired this object.

2015

2021

2025

  • You found it!

Drawing, The Invention of the Compass

This is a Drawing. It was created by Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus and published by Philips Galle and engraved by Theodor Galle and made for (as the client) Luigi Alamanni. It is dated ca. 1590 and we acquired it in 1901. Its medium is pen and brown ink, brush and gray and brown wash, black chalk on laid paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

It is credited Museum purchase through gift of various donors.

Its dimensions are

10.7 × 14.6 cm (4 3/16 × 5 3/4 in.)

It is inscribed

Recto, inscribed in pen and ink: "ocsidens/ tramontane / levanus / meridiens" Verso, inscribed in pen and ink: "brief vanden 25 jannuare 3 hebben [...]"

Cite this object as

Drawing, The Invention of the Compass; Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus (Flemish, 1523–1605); Published by Philips Galle (Flemish, 1537 - 1612); Engraved by Theodor Galle; Client: Luigi Alamanni (Italian, 1558–1603); Netherlands; pen and brown ink, brush and gray and brown wash, black chalk on laid paper; 10.7 × 14.6 cm (4 3/16 × 5 3/4 in.); Museum purchase through gift of various donors; 1901-39-302

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18120461/ |title=Drawing, The Invention of the Compass |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>